God and Us Workbook

SERMON SERIES WORKBOOK June 7 - July 26, 2020

StLukesMethodist.org

Dear St. Luke’s Family,

T

he heart of the Christian faith is not a set of rules to follow. The heart of the Christian faith is not a set of religious practices. The heart of the Christian faith is not a set of beliefs to check off the list.

The heart of the Christian faith is a story. It is a story about God and us. It is the story of a relationship between God and God’s beloved children, a relationship that is full of heartbreak and reconciliation, yearning and challenging, always moving purposefully and intentionally through twists and turns toward God’s preferred future for all of creation.

I wonder, can you tell the story of God and us? Can you share with others the chapters in the saga in a way that makes sense? This summer, we will tell the story of God, unpacking each episode, but lifting up the whole story as an integrated whole. I hope you won’t miss any episodes, and if you do, make sure and make them up! By the end of the summer, you will have a narrative you can share with anyone who wants to know, “so tell me about this God of yours.”

In Christ,

Tom Pace Senior Pastor

“The heart of the Christian faith is a story. It is a story about God and us.”

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week 1

creation This week’s scripture — Genesis 2:4-9, 15-17 Write out this week’s key verse — Genesis 2:7

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the story of

god & us GOD CREATED THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING IN IT BECAUSE GOD DESIRED A RELATIONSHIP WITH US. this week’s activity: create!

We are co-creators with God. Cook something tasty, set a beautiful table, draw or paint, write a poem or plant a garden. Share it with a neighbor!

We give ourselves away in generosity and service.

go deeper...book recommendation The Lost World of Genesis One by John Walton In this astute mix of cultural critique and biblical studies, John H. Walton presents and defends twenty propositions supporting a literary and theological understanding of Genesis 1.

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week 2

sin This week’s scripture — Genesis 3:1-13 Write out this week’s key verse — Genesis 3:13

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the story of

god & us WE HAVE FREE WILL AND OUR SIN MOVES US AWAY FROM GOD SO DECIDEDLY THAT WE CANNOT OVERCOME THE SEPARATION ON OUR OWN. this week’s activity: meditate

Using Psalm 51 as a prompt, confess the times you have rebelled or lacked integrity. Sin started in the garden with the apple. What is your “apple” that gets you into trouble in the first place?

We study the Bible. • We pray and worship.

go deeper...book recommendation Speaking of Sin by Barbara Brown Taylor The author brings her fresh perspective to words that often cause us discomfort and have widely fallen into neglect: sin, damnation, repentance, penance, and salvation. In recovering this lost language in our worship and individual lives, she shows how we can take part in the divine work.

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week 3

covenant This week’s scripture — Exodus 6:1-8 Write out this week’s key verse — Exodus 6:7

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the story of

god & us GOD REACHES OUT TO US TO OVERCOME OUR SEPARATION

BY CREATING COVENANTS— ­­ AGREEMENTS TO TAKE CARE OF US THAT GOD WILL UPHOLD NO MATTER WHAT. this week’s activity: color & commit

Print and decorate the border of the Wesleyan Covenant art piece found here: StLukesMethodist.org/thestoryofgodandus. Invite a friend to do it, too. There are two signature lines; sign yours and ask a friend who will keep you accountable to your promise to the Lord witness by signing too.

We make friends.

go deeper...book recommendation The Covenanted Self by Walter Brueggemann Brueggemann challenges the reader to confront the issues of faithfulness, responsibility, and justice in an ever-changing world.

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week 4

incarnation This week’s scripture — Philippians 2:5-11 Write out this week’s key verse — Philippians 2:7

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the story of

god & us THROUGH THE INCARNATION OF JESUS, WE WERE BROUGHT INTO THE DEEPEST POSSIBLE INTIMACY WITH GOD. this week’s activity: list

Read the Gospel of Luke. List the human qualities of Jesus that you most want to emulate. Is it love? Compassion?

Then, make another list of the concrete ways that you plan to grow in your top 3 qualities.

We study the Bible.

go deeper...book recommendation On the Incarnation by Athanasius of Alexandria This short, approachable book written by Bishop Athansius in the 4th century in order to answer the question, “Why did God have to become human?” Athansius wrote that, “He became what we are, so that He might make us what He is.”

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week 5

atonement This week’s scripture — Luke 23:32-43, 1 John 2:1-2 Write out this week’s key verse — 1 John 2:2

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the story of

god & us JESUS ENTERED THE WORLD TO LEAD US BACK INTO THE HARMONY FROM WHICH WE HAD FALLEN AWAY, TO ATONE FOR OUR SINS ON THE CROSS, OVERCOMING THE POWERS OF EVIL. this week’s activity: photography

Prior to Jesus, animals were sacrificed for the sins of the people.

The cross changed everything, and the cross is everywhere! Take a photo of every naturally occurring cross you find, thanking Jesus for his sacrifice each time.

We pray and worship.

go deeper...book recommendation Past Event and Present Salvation by Paul Fiddes This book considers the relationship of the crucifixion to the continuing process of God’s saving activity. The author considers the relevance of a past act of atonement to such areas of practical experience as forgiveness, liberation, and suffering.

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week 6

resurrection This week’s scripture — 1 Peter 1:3-5, Romans 8:15-21 Write out this week’s key verse — 1 Peter 1:3b-4

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the story of

god & us

VICTORY OVER SIN AND DEATH WAS ACHIEVED WHEN JESUS WAS RESURRECTED AFTER THE CRUCIFIXION. this week’s activity: worship

We are children of the Resurrection every day! Search Easter Hymns and songs on Google or YouTube. As you enjoy the music, worship and delight in Christ’s victory over death and what that means for you.

We pray and worship.

go deeper...book recommendation Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church by N.T. Wright Anglican bishop N.T. Wright tackles the biblical question of what happens after we die. His answer just might surprise us.

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week 7

holy spirit This week’s scripture — Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 1:1-8 Write out this week’s key verse — Acts 1:8

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the story of

god & us GOD DWELLS IN EACH CHRISTIAN TO GUIDE, STRENGTHEN, AND COMFORT THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE SPIRIT ASSEMBLED A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS TO BECOME THE CHURCH THAT WORSHIPS AND FULFILLS GOD’S MISSION: TO INAUGURATE THE KINGDOM ON EARTH. this week’s activity: experiment

Pray each day this week for the Holy Spirit to guide every step and thought of your day. Pay special attention to fleeting thoughts about a person and reach out and contact them right then and there.

We pray and worship. • We make friends.

go deeper...book recommendation Fresh Air: The Holy Spirit for an Inspired Life by Jack Levison Provocative and life-changing, Fresh Air combines moving personal anecdotes, rich biblical studies, and practical strategies for experiencing the daily presence of the Holy Spirit.

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week 8

completion This week’s scripture — Revelation 22:1-5 Write out this week’s key verse — Revelation 22:3

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the story of

god & us ONE DAY GOD WILL COMPLETE THE NEW CREATION. THERE WILL BE NO MORE EVIL OR SUFFERING, AND EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD WILL BE RESTORED AND SET RIGHT. this week’s activity: draw

Inspired by Revelation 22, use your imagination and design your vision of the Holy City. This may look like poetry, drawing, or prose. Listen to Tom’s favorite hymn, Marching to Zion while you create.

We study the Bible.

go deeper...book recommendation Reversed Thunder by Eugene H. Peterson Peterson’s eloquent meditation on the Revelation of St. John engages the imagination and awakens the intellect to the vitality and relevance of the last words on scripture, Christ, church, worship, evil, prayer, witness, politics, judgement, salvation, and heaven.

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T H E

W H O

God CREATED the world and

everything in it because God desired a relationship with us. We have free will and our SIN moves us away from God so

decidedly that we cannot overcome the separation on our own. But God reaches out to us to overcome our separation by creating COVENANTS— agreements to take care of us that God will uphold no matter what.

Through the INCARNATION of

Jesus, we were brought into the deepest possible intimacy with God. Jesus entered the world to lead us back into the harmony from which we had fallen away, 20

L E

S T O R Y

to ATONE for our sins on the cross, overcoming the powers of evil.

Victory over sin and death was achieved when Jesus was RESURRECTED after the crucifixion. God dwells in each Christian to guide, strengthen, and comfort through the HOLY

SPIRIT.

The Spirit assembled a community of believers to become the church that worships and fulfills God’s mission: to inaugurate the Kingdom on Earth. One day God will COMPLETE the new creation.

There will be no more evil or suffering,

and everything in the world will be restored and set right.

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ON DECK AUGUST 2

THE SACRIFICE BUNT

AUGUST 9

STRIKING OUT

AUGUST 16

A LONG SEASON

AUGUST 23

PLAYING THE SHIFT

AUGUST 30

HAVE A HOT DOG

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